Yes! And fortunately…

In 2023, France is home to about fifty tanneries, some of which are specialized (exotic leathers, lambskin, buffalo, fish, bull calf). These tanneries work for a variety of sectors, most often linked to craftsmanship and luxury goods: furniture, footwear, leather goods (gainerie), gloving, watchmaking, saddlery, clothing, furnishings, etc.

These French companies have been able to innovate by modernizing ancestral processes in order to comply with stringent standards.

They all highlight a standard of excellence in craftsmanship, and some hold the Living Heritage Company (Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant) label. Created in 2005, this label awarded by the State distinguishes French artisanal and industrial companies with rare and exceptional know-how.

In a traditional tannery, the transformation of skin into leather usually takes place in several steps:

DYEING
Full-immersion vat dyeing to ensure depth and brilliance of color.

FATLIQUORING
With animal and vegetable oils to ensure suppleness and softness.

CURRYING
Drying and softening operations to ensure high resistance to wear.

FINISHING
Chemical and mechanical processes aimed at giving the leather its final appearance.

Below, we present a selection of the most iconic French tanneries.

Since its inception, Malfroid has favored a short supply chain approach and has sourced from some of these tanneries for the manufacturing of its shoes.

Degermann Tannery

“The origins of the DEGERMANN Tannery in BARR, a charming little picturesque town in the heart of the Alsatian vineyards 35 kilometers south of Strasbourg, date back to the 19th century. An uninterrupted lineage of tanners, from Gustave, the founder, to Nicolas, the current manager, has successfully passed down passion, values, and know-how to this day.

Since 1832 at the Degermann Leather manufacture, our know-how has been built over time; we maintain traditional methods while staying at the cutting edge of technology to offer you products that comply with regulations.”

Du Puy Tannery

“Created in 1946, the Tanneries du Puy have built their reputation on traditional expertise in the manufacture of high-end calfskin (...) 'made in Haute-Loire'..

Thanks to our team of nearly 140 people, our site quickly became a major player in leatherworking, recognized in particular for its expertise in Boxcalf finishing, and is a member of the French Tannery Federation.”

Annonay Tannery

“Created in 1838, the tannery located in Annonay, a leather town since the 12th century, built its reputation through the traditional manufacture of calfskin. It owes its renown to two tanneries that were reputable in the 20th century, Combes and Meyzonnier, whose know-how it inherited.”

Roux Tanneries

“In the heart of the Drôme region, the Tanneries Roux work with calfskin, respecting the traditions of the region. They benefit from strong local roots and the transmission of values and know-how for two centuries.”

They notably work on the development of new articles using calfskin and bull calf, as well as the improvement of their processes and practices.

Remy Carriat Tannery

Created in 1927, the company diversified in the 70s “by entering the furniture market with bull calf hides. During a technical consulting mission in Pakistan in 1976, Jacques Carriat discovered buffalo and introduced it to the French market.

“Since then, improving production tools has been a constant challenge: renovation of premises, construction of a dyeing workshop in 2004, renewal and modernization of numerous production equipment, integration of IT tools, and consideration of environmental concerns.”